Imogen Stuart Good Gear Guide
Bottom Line:
For $159 you have to ask yourself: is it worth having a non-adjustable headset that looks like something worn in Star Trek, just so you can listen to music and answer calls wirelessly? The sound quality of the Motorola Motorockr S9HD Bluetooth headset is nothing to write home about, either.
The Motorola MOTOROKR S9 HD headset can pair with Bluetooth-equipped devices like MP3 players, mobile phones and notebooks.
The Motorola MOTOROKR S9 HD Bluetooth headset is an upgraded version of the Motorola MOTOROKR S9. It looks rather bizarre and feels somewhat uncomfortable, but it has some nice features up its sleeve.
The Motorola MOTOROKR S9 HD wireless headphones can pair with Bluetooth-equipped devices like MP3 players, mobile phones and notebooks.
We tested the headset with a number of Bluetooth-capable devices and found that set up was quick and easy; pairing the device with an 16GB iPod Nano took minimal effort and the wireless range was impressive.
We also tested the MOTOROKR S9 HD with a Sony Ericcsson W880i mobile phone; it integrated seamlessly with the phone's call and media player functions. The built-in skip, pause, play, answer call and volume controls, which are located on the sides of the ear pieces, all functioned as expected.
The Motorola MOTOROKR S9 HD headphones are designed to be worn behind the head and over the ears. They weigh next to nothing but the design is awkward — there are no adjustment options and although the headset sits firmly in the ears, it hangs loosely at the back of the head and moves around a lot. For activities like jogging, this may become rather vexing.
The headset has a rechargeable battery, which Motorola claims that the battery will last up to six hours. The charging port located at the back of the headphones uses a standard USB connector.
Sound quality is clear when the headphones are within 10 meters of the paired device. On some occasions, when entering another room, the sound would cut out, but this is almost unavoidable with a wireless device. Outgoing audio from the headset is decent. The integrated microphone and call-handling controls mean that you can use the headset to conduct a conversation when it is paired with a mobile phone.
Ultimately, sound quality and comfort are key aspects of a pair of headphones. We've already established that the Motorola MOTOROKR S9 HD headphones can be uncomfortable to wear. Their sound quality when listing to music is so-so; they deliver reasonable but unspectacular treble and mid-range, but the bass is a strong point. If you like your tunes to be thumpin’, and you can handle the intrusive nature of the earpieces, then this Bluetooth headset might be for you.
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